Klitschko v Pulev postponed as champion suffers training injury

The September 6 heavyweight title contest between Wladimir Klitschko and Kubrat Pulev is set to be postponed after the Ukrainian suffered a torn left bicep just two weeks before the fight.

Klitschko, 38, was due to defend his WBA, WBO, IBF and IBO titles against the undefeated Bulgarian, although K2 Promotions’ Tom Loeffler confirmed that the clash will now be pushed back.

“Unfortunately, the news is true that Wladimir Klitschko injured himself in camp and the Sept 6 fight against Pulev needs to be postponed,” said Loeffler, who also looks after the affairs of middleweight king Gennady Golovkin.

A statement released by Klitschko read: “I am very disappointed that the fight cannot take place as planned. I am in absolute top form and had a great training camp. Of course, I’m sorry for the fans, but also for my opponent Kubrat Pulev, who was certainly training as intensely as I do.”

KMG have informed WBN that Klitschko will miss four weeks of training, although they are confident that the fight will happen by November or December in Hamburg.

‘Dr. Steelhammer’ was about to wind up his Austrain camp, where the former Olympic Gold Medallist had been sparring London 2012 champion Anthony Joshua, among others.

Pulev is the current mandatory challenger as stipulated by the International Boxing Federation, and with 20 victories without defeat, is widely tipped to be a live challenger for Klitschko once the fight goes ahead.